Automatic film processing machine



March 19, 1940. 1'. FfwlNANs AUTOMATIC FILM PROCESSING MACHINE K Filed miren e, 1959 5 sheets-sheet 1 l INVENTOR, Jheadorejrwle hfzar 19,194.0'. TQFwQNANSL '2,194,345'

'Autou'ncfru rnocssrue nenni:

A Shoots-Sheet 2 INVENTOR rwllle Panam# filed umn s. 1959 BY i ATTORNEYS.

Mmh 19, 1940. T. F. wmNs' '2,194,345

AUTOMATIC FILM PROCESSING MACHINE Filed March e, '1959 5 'sheets-sheet 4 /4 |||l|1|1||. V. l

l l n V, l W 4 Y ATTORNEYS.

March 19,1940. T. F. wmANs 2,194,345-

Aufrou'mr: FILM PROCESSING MACHINE l Filed marchv 6, 1959 5 sheets-sheet s INVENTOR, (odoreo nvdle Wman's Bf @ff/@ ATTORNEYS.

50 Other objecten ramas Mq. 19, '194e .UNITE-D STATES PATENT orrics aurom'rjro nur rnocsssnvo mennen Theodore Fonville Winans. Baton BNIB. La. application Mms s, "ma, sei-iai No. :n.165

, 13 `(Jlalml.

'Ihis inventionrelates to a machine 'for automatically handling articles that require succesto stop its developing action by removing most v of the developing solution from the Plate or 15 nlm; the next step isI the introduction of the nlm or plate into a hypo bath where it is nxed to prevent further action of elements used in the developing; the nlm or plate is now removed from the hypo bath and thoroughly washed with 2o running water; and the nnal step is the drying of the processed nlm o r plate which is usually accomplished by placing it in a current of warm air. During these various steps it is benencial to agitate the nlm or plate to remove air bubbles sa and to' insure uniform contact'of the various liquids on the nlm lor plate surface. Since the developing step is the only one that needs to be `timed by the operator, the remaining steps can be nxed at s'ome predetermined period of time that $0 will be proper for all nlms or plates.

'Ihe principal object of. the present is the provision of a machine which will carry a nlm, securedin a suitable holder, and -successively immerse it in dinerent vfluids for preas determined periods of time. for its complete processing. Another object of this invention is the provision of a 4mechanism for handling and processing nlms that will automatically pass the nlms 4e through the various steps oi processing and then stop all action until the machine is again charged and set by the operator.

A further obiect of the invention is the provision of novel means by whichthe nlms are el movedl in an arcuate path from thevarious trays of a serieaand then while in the raised position they are moved by a conatantlyidriven screwfeedtothenextadiacenttrayanddeposited therein bylrtvity.

aimplicitygand economy of construction, ease and precision of operation, vand adaptability for quick adiustinentl whereby snydesiredtimingisobtained.

Referencewillnowbehad-to-thedrawingl invention Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automatic nlm processing machine embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the machine with 'the covers removed. I l Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the film holder positioned in one of the containers.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 3.

' Fig. 'l is an enlarged elevation of the feed-screw l5 j and certain of the associated parts;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the driving alici control mechanism. Fig. 9 is `a fragmentary front elevation \of a portion of the control mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional vlew taken on line X-X of Fig'. 8.

Fig. 11 shows the parts disclosed in Fig. l0 moved to another position.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken onv Il! line XII-XII oi Fig. 8. Fig. 131s a horizontal line XIII-XIII oi' Fig. 8.

' Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic showing of the electrical circuit; and,

Fig. 15 is an enlarged detailed view of the trip lever and associated parts.

Throughout the several views .like reference characters designate similar parts andthe nu-I meral 2 is a cabinet of rectangular shape having a bottom 4, side walls t and 8. end walls il and i2, and hinged cover member M This cabinet 2 is made so as to preclude the light when closed, thus presenting a suitable dark room for the different processing steps;

VRemovably mounted in cabinet 2 and resting on bottom I, is'a series of trays ".il and Il secured against horizontal movement by frame 22, which is secured to bottom l. A stationary water washing tray M secured -to bottom I is 4l connected at its lower portion withwater supply pipe It connected with a suitable supply of water under pressure (not shown). vThis pipe 2l is provided withahand closing valve 21 which is operated as hereinafter set forth.

A waste pipe 28 communicates with the upper portion creeranno :nos w s mutable anun outside the cabinet so that water will be mainv. tained-atanxedlevclinthe'tray henwa isdeliveredtheretotl'ix'oullipipeIl.v Tofacili- Il sectional view taken on tate proper distribution of the water, a perorated, false bottom 88 is Iitted into tray 2li In order to prevent the accumulation of exces- 4 sive air in cabinet 2, outlets 44 are provided in cover I6. Light trap 86 is provided together with black surfaces to prevent the entrance of light during the processing of the films.

Referring now to the film F, it will be noted that it is mounted in a holder 48 having .an elongated side member'EIl having a notch 52 by means of which it is secured to the carriage,

hereinafter described. 'Any desired number of holders 48 may be provided so long as theycan all be introduced into a tray at the same time.

A bar l54 pivotally mounted at its one end in a bearing 56, carried by end member I2, extends through an opening 58 formed in the other end wall I8 of the cabinet and is rotatably mounted in a frame 60. This frame 68 is secured to the outside of end wall I8 and completely covers the opening 58 to preclude light from the cabinet. A housing having stationary end member 82, hinged side 64, hinged end member 56 and hinged cover member 68, serves to completely cover the frame-68 and mechanism associated therewith.

This bar 54 is preferably square in cross sec-- tion and is adapted-to pass through the square hole l2 formed through sleeve 18, whereby the sleeve is secured against rotation relative to the bar. Mounted on sleeve 18 is a U-shaped bracket 73, extending radially from the axis of said bar, and having a cross rod 'I4 secured thereto in parallel relation with bar 58. This cross rod I4 isv adapted to be iitted into the notches 52 of side members 58 to support a series of the iilm holders 88, see Figs. 3, 4' and 5.

It will be noted that when the holders'are in the position shown in Fig. 4, the holders will rest against stop rod 'I8 carried by bracket l2 to support them in a forwardly extended position,-

and when moved to the position shown. in Fig. 5, side member 58 will move away from stop rod 18 and rest on top of the tray into which the holders areprojected, thereby insuring the positioning of the lm in uid contained within the tray. It is quite essential that side member 50 be positioned near the upper edge of the tray to preclude excessive rocking of the lm holders on rod 78.

A synchronous motor 'i8 mounted on the base plate of frame 88 drives shaft 88which is joined to'y worm 82 by the connecting sleeve 84. The outer end of worm 82 is reduced at 88 and rotatably mounted in bearing 88 carried by frame 58. Worm 82 intermeshes with a worm wheel88 which is rigidly secured to and drives a feed screw 82 mounted for rotation in frame'88 and in bearing member 56. 'I'his feed-screw extends longitudinally through cabinet 2 in parallel rela- Y tion to bar -5ft and serves to move the. nlm sup# porting carriage along bar 54 itt-predetermined intervals of time. Positioned-above feed screw 82 and in spaced apart relation to said feed screw and bar 54, is a guide bar 84 secured'by screws aiaaess 88 at its one end to frame 88 and at its other end. by screws 88. to bearing member 558.

Securely attached to sleeve "i8 of the film car,-

riage by set screws E88, is a member |82 having a tongue |88 anda notch'i, as shown in Figs. 2,

3, 5 and 6. Member |82 can also be made integral with the sleeve.

Tongue |88 is preferably arcuate at its lower portion to'operatively engage feed screw 88 i feed screw 82 during the movement of the illm carrier from one tray to the lnext, and-it will be noted that the notches in guide bar 84 are positioned respectively, substantially centrally therewith se that the mms win be properly guided to and from the respective trays.

In order to position the tongue |84 in operative relation with the feed screw 82, when the films are positioned in the carrier above the developing tray I6, it wasV found necessary to provide a latching means comprising a member ||8 rotatably mounted in bearings |28 carried by guide bar 84. The inner end of I I8 is oilsetto form an oscillatable finger |22 which is positioned in'alignment with the center position of notch |88. The other end of member ||8 is formed transversely of its axis of rotation to provide an operating arm |24. Spring |26 engages memberfl ||8 to constantly urge iinger |22 toward V feed screw 482.

Referring to` Fig. 4 the film carriage is shown in the raised position with the tongueA |84 in A engagement with the feed screw 92 and with the finger |22 resting on tongue |84 to maintain the prising an arm |28 rigidly secured to bar 54 by set screw |88 and connected by pin |82 to piston rod |84 of dash pot |86. 'Ihis dash pot is pivotally connected at |88 to bracket |48 carried by cabinet 2. This dash pot can be adjusted to properly control the downward movement of the carrier, regardless of ltsweight. The slot |42 in rod |88 permits a limited oscillation of the bar 54 independently oi the dashpot. l

The water supply control, best shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and?, includes a valve |44 in the water supply pipe 25, This valve can be of the automatic spring closing type, but in ord'er to clarify the showing, tension spring |48 is shown attached to valve lever |88 and to'a. stationary pin |58 and tends -to constantly urge the .valve to the closed position, shown in Fig. 3. Attachedv to` valve lever |48, by bolt |52, isa bracket I 54 having a transverse rib |56 against which a valve lever |58 pivoted at |58 to bracLet |54, rests. This lever |58 is positioned and pivoted for transverse movement relative to the oscillatory movement ci' valve lever |48-and extends above a plate |62 carried by guide bar 8,4. This platgtis "provided with a noten |64 intewhich the upper end of lever |58 is urged by spring |68 as the valve is i l y 9,194,345 3 in the open position. A horizontally disposed levery arm |66 pivoted intermediate its ends by pin |16 to plate |62, normally rests in the position shown in Fig. '1, with its one end |12 in 5 alignment with notch |64 while its other e'nd |14 extends into the path oi travel of carrier tongue |64 by which it is operated to cause lever end |12 to force the lever |66 from notch |64 against the action of spring |66 so that lthetension 10 spring |66. will move the valve |44 to the closed position. y

It will be noted that the spring |66 constantly urges the upper end of lever |66 against the longitudinal edge |16 of plate |62. The tongue |64 15' in its Itravel from notch ||2 to ||4 during the operation of the machine, engages the end of lever |66, moves it to engage notch |64 and then when the tongue is moved from notch ||4l to l|6 it contacts and forces end |14 of lever arm |66 20 outwardly thereby causing lever end |12 to release valve lever |66 from notch' |64. v

In order to facilitate proper drying of the films in tray 62, it has .been found best to cover the liquid containing trays I6, |6, 26 and 24, with a ilesuitable cover |11 pivoted at |16 .toy side wall 6,

when the drying operation is about to begin. 'Ihe cover is normally secured in the raised position by latch member |66 secured for oscillatory movement to side wall 6 by screw |62. The opa0 erator moves the cover |16 to the open position and sets the latchv in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6, with the lower arm'l64 of the lever in the path of travel of the extended'side 66 of the fllmrholder, so that as the nlm carrier is being 66 lowered into the drying tray, 62, it will move the latch engaging portion ,|66 from in front of the cover. When the latch is thus operated kick spring |66 urges the cover .|16 to the closed position to cover all except the. drying tray. When the machine is recharged, the operator again secures the cover in the open position. v

Reference will now be had to the timing mechanism whereby the time periods of various processing operations are determined. Fior a typical example, it will be considered that in the processing of a nlm the operator determines from his technical `knowledge that the particular illm requires six minutes (6 min.) in the developing solution. He sets the mechanism, Ahereinafter u described, to said time period, and the other operations being more or las standard and nxed. are each given the proper period of duration, thus making it possible by a single setting' of the v machine to obtain proper developing, rinsing,

sg fixing, washing and drying. After themachine has been loaded and the developingtime set, the film will be completely processed, ready for printing, without any Afurther attention of the operator. l

v .o Ihe synchronous motor 16 operates at 'a substantially'constant speed to drive feed screw 62.

at a reduced rate of This feed screw 62 is provided with worm |66 which intermeshesl with and drives a worin gear |62 mountedon a o6 vertical shaft |64, mounted for rotation in bearings |66 and |66, carried by frame 66. A further reduction of l'speed is obtained by providing a worm 266 on shaft |64 which in turn, drives worin gear 262, mounted on'shaft 264. rotatably 7o mounted in bearings 266 and, 266, carriedby frame 66. Worm 2|6 rotatablewith shaft' v264 drives worm gear 212, 4which is securely mounted on shaft 2|4. This shaft 2|4 is mounted in bearingl u youd to receivel an operating disci2|6 riiiuuiitetl for free rotation relative thereto and also to receive a frictionally mounted shaft extension 2|6.

which is adapted to extend through an opening 226 formed through side member 64, and through a dial member 222 secured to the outside surface` 6 of member 64.

The outer end of shaft extension 2|6 is provided with an operating knob 224 and an indicator hand 226 which is adapted to be positioned to indicate time intervals on a graduated index 1o 226 on dial member 222. Extension member 2|6 is tubular in form and slotted at its inner end as at 220, and is formed to frictionally grip the end of shaft 2|4. yTo prevent longitudinal movement of shaft 2 |4 a collar 262 secured by pin 264, 1| rests against bearing 2|6 while the hub of worm wheel 2|2 contacts frame 60.

A finger 226 carried by shaft extension 2|6 is adapted to be vdriven in a clockwise direction tc contact pin 266, extending outwardly from N disc 2|6, thereby causing the disc 2|6 to rotate in a clockwise direction. A

The operating disc is provided at its periphery with radially extending lingers 246, 242, 244 and 246. The spacing of these hngers is deter- 26 .mined by the time of respective steps of process- .cause the movement of the film carriage to andA from a position within the various trays. This Il oscillation isobtained by the following mechanism (seeFigs. 8, 9, 10, 11, l2 and 13.). A miter gear 2461s secured for rotationwithy shaft |64 by spline 266 which permits of relative longitudinal movement. This miter gear 246 is adapted to be moved to and from intermeshed relation with miter gear 262, securely mounted on shaft 264 rotatably mounted in bearing -266 by the following mechanism. i A; yoke consisting of shaft 266 mounted for 4g rotation in bearings 266 carried. by frame 66 is provided with radially disposed arms 262, carryingoppositely disposed engaging fingers 26|, adapted to engage annular groove 264 formed inthe hub ofmiter gear 262. An arm 266 sel.

cured to shaft 266 by set screw 266, is pivoted at its lower end to a lever 216. 'I'his arm is held in a substantially horizontal position against the lower side of a stationary detent 212 carried by- .frame 6I, by diagonally disposed' tension spring gg v sitioned to prevent transverse movement thereof.

As clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 15, the outer end of lever 216 is angled upwardly and provided 66 with an operating finger 216 pivoted at 266 and provided with transversely projecting lugsl 262 and v264 which are adapted to engage opposite'` sides respectively of proiection 266 integral with, lever 216. These lugs are'so spaced apart'as to lo allow a slight oscillation of the finger 216 relative to lever 216 for reasons hereinafter set forth. A tension spring 266-- attached at its one end to lever 216 and at its other end to finger 216 maintainatheouterendofthefingerlllintheraised n position with lug 233 contacting projection 233. It will be noted that when the miter gear 252- is being held in the raised position and lever 2i@ is in the extended, latched position, nger 213 will be in the path of travel of the disc ngers 2153, 222, 234, and 243, so that as disc 2te is rotated and one of these iingers contacts ringer 213, it will be oscillated on its axis to extend spring 2id until lug 282 contacts projection 233, then lever 213 vwill move downwardly until it is released from. detent 2'112. When the lever 2li@ is released spring'Zid contracts and moves finger 218 out of the path of travel of the operating fingers and also through interconnecting mechanism described above, causes'miter gear 252 to operatively engage miter gear 223 and cause it to rotate through a given arc. As soon as nger 213 is retracted, spring 233 will retract and cause the linger to be raised until lug 234 strikes projection 283, thereby making it possible to return the nger to a position in the path of travel of the operating fingers 24d, etc., without striking the operating finger which just moved the nger 218 to the released position.

Referring to Figs. 10, 11 and 13, it will be noted that shaft 254 is provided at its outer end with a radially extending pin 333 which engages pin 382 and drives arm 293, which is mounted for rotation on shaft 25d, and' adapted to rotate in the direction of the arrow as long as the driven pin 38B engages pin 232.

An arm 292 rotatably mounted on bar 53 is b slotted at 293 and interconnected by link 293 l si to arm 290 by pins 293 and.30 respectively.

Arm 292 is slightly longer than arm 230- thus insuring an oscillatory motion of arm 292 as arm 290 rotates in one direction. Pins 333 and 382 are normally positioned as shown in Fis. 10 in spaced apart relation to permit rapid independent movement of lever 290 to its normal position. Rigidly secured to bar 53 by set screw 332 is an arm 334 carrying a'pin 336 in the path of travel of arm 292. these parts is clearly shown in Fig. 10, while in Fig. l1, the arm 2921s shown moved upwardly to contact pin 336 to rotate bar 54 through armV 304. The amount of rotation of bar 34 can be xed by adjusting arm 303 on bar 54 to vary its relation to arm 292. As arm 292 is rotated in 'a clockwise direction, as shown, it tensions a spring 388 attached at its one end to a pin 3io, carried intermediate the ends of lever 292, and at its other end to a stationary part of frame 68. This spring returns the arms 232 and 293 to their normal'positions after they have passed their center line of movement and gears 248 and 252 will be disengaged by the following mechanism. A lever arm 3l2 rigidly secured to shaft 258 is moved to a position in the path of travel of the arm 290 when the miter gears 248 and 252 are in mesh, and after the arm 292 has been moved to oscillate bar 54. Arm 293 will engage lever 3|2 and force it to oscillate shaft 258 and position lever 219 with notch 218 engaging detent 212 and the miter gears will be secured in the'disengaged relation. When lever 292 has returned to its normal position, the bar 54, with its associated parts, will be free to return to its normal position with the lm carrying member in position in one of the series of trays as previously described.

Bar 54 is also provided with a lever arm 3I4 which is adjustably secured thereto by set screw 313. This lever is offset at 3|1 and provided 'Ihe normal position of amasar i with an oblique surface 383 which is adapted to be moved to a position in the path of travel of lugs 323 carried on the upper face of the worin gear i92 which is constantly rotated in one the lmcarry'ing member to agitate the liquid in tray or to shake the liquid from thesurface of the lms before the drying operation.

Set screw 3i@ is positioned in the vertical position when the nlm holder is lowered into the tray as described above, so that it is adapted to serve as a hand grip whereby the 'operator may oscillate bar 54 to cause a movement of the iilms in the solution contained in the tray i3.

Referring now to the timing disc 2i3 and its associated parts, it will be noted that in Figs. 8 and 9 the parts are positioned to correspond with the position of the lxn carrying member,

shown in Fig. 4; The nger 233 has been set by positioning hand 226 at the index denoting six minutes (6 min.) period of time. Finger 236 will engage pin 238 on disc 2i8 thereby causing nger 243A to engage operating ringer 213 and release lever 213, thereby putting in motion the mechanism, previously set forth,to removethe lm carrier member from the solutionin the developer tray'. The tongueilt then engages feed screw 92 and the lni ,carrier member is moved to a position above the tray I3, and released when tongue H34 registers with notch lili. The weight of -the film carrier member causes it to move downwardly into the tray I8 where it will remain until the linger 242 moves to again release the latched lever 210. These operations will be repeated by the action of'ngers 244 'and 23B after which the film carrier member will be positioned in the drying'tray 32.

When the fllm carrying member is 'being moved 'from the hypo tray 28 to the rinsing tray 24, the water supply is turned on to provide owing water for the Washing operation, also when the lms are moved from trayv24 to the drying tray 32, the water supply is cut 01T, by mechanism previously described.

A short period after the ilm carrying member has been positioned in the drier tray 32 and has been jolted by the action of lugs 320, then the air is turned on by the following means. Referring to Figs. 8,' 9 and 14, it will be noted that a switch lever 322 pivotally mounted at 323 on standard -324 is maintained in a. normal position, as shown in Fig. 9, by means of a tension spring Switch lever 322 carries two mercury switch members 330 and 332. Switch 332 vis normally closed since the mercury joins the two contact points 334 and 336 and switch 330 is normally open since the mercury does not join the contact points 338 and 340. An operating pin 34| mounted on disc 2|8 moves to contact the upper end of switch lever and move it to a position so that the mercury switches` will be tilted sufciently to close switch 338 and open switch 332.

` 326 which holds'it against the stop pin 328.

This operation of `switch lever 322 takes place after finger. 246 has operated the lever 21D, describedabove.

A time delay switch 342, set forth in U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,773,697, is mounted in end member 62 and is adaptedy to be set for any desired period of time. v

Referring now to the diagrammatic showing answleased from seid ieed'serew and smppediiitosaid 1 adjacent tray.

wire n2. The other side of motor 1I is connected by 'wire 3 to wire l leading from wire 348 to one pole of the blower motor 42. The other pole il. of motor 42 is connected with contact point nl of switch 330 by wire 31|.

Ihe flow of current in circuit is as follows:

switch u! is first set to and closed so as to re- Y main closed for 'a predetermined period of time,

sumcient to carry out the complete processing oi' a illm. When so closed with the switchv 330 open and' switch 33 2 closed, the current from wire 3l! passes through wire 352. switch 342, wires IBI and 0, switch 332, wire 302, motor 1,^wires 3M and 308 to wire l". When switch SII is closed and switch 332 is opened, as described above, ,the current flow is as follows: wire` 350 through' wire 352, switch 342, wire 35|, contact points lll and l, wire 310, through motor 42 and wire t to line wire 348. After a predetermined period of time of operation of the blower `motor l2, the time switch 342 operates to open the circuit. thereby cutting olf all current to the motors, thus stopping the action of the machine.

It is v ery apparent that time periods of the different steps in processing films or the handling lof any other `object requiring' different `timed steps of processing, may be obtained by replacing timing disc lll with anyother suitable disc having thevarious fingers and pins spaced ix correspond to the desired time periods. Also the speed of rotation of disc device.

The cabinet 2 might be dispensed with and the mechanism could be suitably positioneddnany dark room, furthermore, the device might be used where no exclusion of light is required.

The .notch Il. in member lll! is adapted to ree 'ceive guide bar Il when the parts are in position to permit the return of the nlm carriage-from the drying tray to the developing tray. y

By means of the hand operated valve 21, the supply of water to the washing tray may be dennltely determined.l

A heating unit )Il positioned in the Aair supply system, see Fig. 8, is adapted to properly warm move said nlm carrying -member successively lfrom `said trays; a constantly driven feed screw idapte to engage and move said nlm member from one tray to thenext adiacent tray;

and means whereby said'carrying member istetrays other.

2 I8 may be easily varied t without changing'the general construction'of the various trays.

y 2. A machine vfor handling illms and the like, comprising a series i ofv longitudinally a film carrying member slidably -mounted on an oscillatable bar for oscillation therewith; time controlled means operableto oscillate said bar, at variable predetermined intervals, to move said nlm carrying member from said trays; and constantly driven means whereby said nlm carrying means is" engaged and nally on said oscillatable bar from onetray to an- 3. A machine for handling comprising a series of trays adapted to receive said films; a fllm carrier member slidably mounted on and oscillatable with an oscillatable bar: time controlled means operable to oscillate said bar at predetermined intervals whereby said film carrying means is moved from said trays; and constantly driven means whereby said film carrying member is movedin one direction from one tray to another. when said carrying means is positioned outside the tray. i

4. A vmachine `for handling films or the like, comprising-a seriesiof trays adapted to receive said films; a longitudinally disposed bar rotatably-mounted adjacent said trays; a film carrier member slidably mounted on said bar and secured against rotation relative theretoftime controlled means operableto oscillate said bar atpredetermined periods of time is moved from said trays;

the next adjacent tray.

for handling lms or the like.

tray to 5. A machine comprising a series of trays` to oscillate said bar at predetermined intervals of time whereby said illm carrier member is sucillms andthe like,

whereby said fllmcarrier and-a feed screw adaptj ed to engage and drive said nlm carrier from one t adapted to receive- Y saidnlms: a film carrier member slidably mountmoved longitudi i cessively moved from said trays to engage said Y feed screw for movement longitudinally of said series of trays; and means associated withsaid time controlled means, operable to agltate said nlm carrier member as it is positioned in'- the 6.'A machine for handling nlms or the like. comprising a series of trays adapted to receive said mms; anim carrier'member slidably mountedon and oscillatable with an oscillatable har;

a constantly driven Ifeed screw positioned adiacent said trays;` time controlled means operable lto oscillate said bar 'atpredetermined intervals of time whereby said iilm carrier member engages said feed screw and is successively moved from Y one tray to another; and means associated with said time controlled means whereby said film car- -rier member is intermittently moved through a relative short. distance whereby it is agitated within the various trays. Y 7. A machine for handling films or the like. comprising a series of'aligned trays adapted to receive said illms; .a

with said oscillatable bar; a guide bar having spaced' apart notches formed therein, carried in parallel, spaced apart relation to said feed screw; timed controlled means operable to movesaid film 'carrier member from said trays and topositionv a tongue. contained thereon. in engagement with said feed film carrier member slidably i mounted on and oscillatablewith an oscillatable bar aligned with said series of trays; a feed-screw.

.rotatably mounted in pareuei reistion "m' oscillatable bar; a stationary guide bar, having' spaced apart notches formed therein, carried in parallel, spaced apart relation to said feed screw; timed controlled means operable to move said nlml carrier member from said trays, and to move a tongue portion thereof, through one of the notches formed in said guide bar, to engage said feed screw, whereby the carrier member is moved to a position above the next adjacent tray.

9. A machine for handling or the like, comprising a series of aligned trays adapted to receive said lms; a lm carrier member slidably mounted on and oscilla'table with an oscillatable bar aligned with said series of trays; a feed screw. rotatably mounted in` parallel relation with said oscillatable bar; a stationary guide bar, having spaced apart notches formed therein, carried in parallel, spaced apart relation to said feed screw; timed controlled means operable to move said lm carrier member from 'said trays, and to move a tongue portionthereof., through one oi.' the notches formed in said guide bar, to engage said feed screw, whereby the illm carrier member is moved to a position above the next adjacent tray; and retardlng means whereby the speed of downward movement of the tray carrier member into the adiacent tray is regulated.

10. A machine for handling films or the like, comprising a series of aligned trays a valve controlled liquid supply system communicating with a certain one of said trays; a lm carrier member slidably mounted on and oscillatable with an oscillatable bar; time controlled means operable to move said lm carrier member successively from one `tray tothe next adjacent tray, said 45 means being adapted to open the valve of said @pleases v liquid Supply ay is mo cl of the valve when the '-A l It carrier member is moved away from said ce l= l tray.

11. A machine for handling Se comprising a series of' aligned t ys; a motor driven compressor communica with acertain one of said'trays; an oscillatable bar entending in parallel relation with said aligned'trays: a illm carrier member slidably mounted for oscillation with said bar; time'controlled means to successively move said lm carrier member in one direction to each of the trays of they series; and means controlled by said time controlled. means to cause said compressor to deliver a ow and to cause the.

of air to said certain ltray when the iilm carrier y member is positioned therein.

12. A machlne'for handling or the like, comprising a series oi aligned trays apted to receive said iilms; an oscillatable bar mounted for oscillation adjacent said series of trays; a constantly driven i'eed worm positioned in parallel relation with said bar; time controlled means to move said iilm carrier holder from the sucv predetermined time periods, into engagement with said driven feed worm; and means to secure said carrier member and feed worm in operative i relation as the carrier member is being moved between adjacent trays.

13. A machine for handling films or the like,l comprising a series of trays adapted to receive said lms; a lm carrier member having means for supporting a plurality of ilms in s apart relation; an oscillatable bar extendingylongitudinally of said series of trays and serving as a sliding support for said lm carrier member'for oscillation. therewith; time controlled power means whereby said bar is oscillated through different degrees; a constantly driven feed screwy adapted to contact and drive said nlm carrier member from one tray to another, as itis at its highest point of oscillatiomand means to force air through one of said trays after said time controlled power means has been made inactive.

. THEODORE FONVILLE WINANS. 

